Later Christmas Eve

I sat alone in the Church before Mass waiting to see who would come.

Five minutes before Mass began the first person arrived. Over the next fifteen minutes a dozen more came and we began Mass singing "O Come All Ye Faithful". It was a pleasure to be able to celebrate Christmas Mass with this group. Tomorrow morning at 9, I will celebrate Mass again, for whoever comes.

I could not help but think that our celebration of the Mass here tonight was a little different from the two Vigil and Midnight Masses at OLV. Actually this is probably an understatement! Tonight was the first taste the people of the Chathams have had of the revised texts of the Mass. We sang four carols - pretty well I thought, but were not able to sing the Mass itself.

And of course our numbers were a few less than OLV. But if there was no Mass for Christmas at OLV, parishioners would only have to drive a few kilometres for another Mass. At present the people of the Chathams only have Mass half a dozen times a year. It is good that one of these times is Christmas when their friends and family visit from other places.

and just as we finished Mass the power went out! Then the stillness of Christmas night gave way to the sound of the generator kicking into life at the hospital next door.